US737503A - Vending-machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 737,503. PATENTED A'UG.25, 1903.

V E. SHAW. VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED MAR. 18, 1399 no menu.

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P W A H S R VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18, 1899.

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am 0 9 l 5 2 Q U A D E T N E T A P W A H S H 3 0 5 7 3 7 0 N VENDING MAGHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 18. 1899.

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, E. SHAW. VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18, 1899.

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.' No 737,503. PATENTED AUG. 25, 1903.

I E. SHAW. I VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18 1899. 1 N0 MODEL. 8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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PATENTED AUG. 25, 1903.-

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B. SHAW. VENDING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, 1899.

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E; SHAW. VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18, 1899.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

N0- MODEL.

1%. 737,503. PATENTED AUG. 25, 1903.-

E. SHAW.

VENDING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED MAB..18. 1899.

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20,017? 98563 In ven tor l l I W UNlTED STATES Patented August 25,1903.

. EDYVARD SHAW, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

VENDING-MACHINE.

SPECJCFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 737,503, dated August 25, 1903.

Application filed March 18, 1899. Serial No. 709,662. (No model.)

To a, whom it may concern.-

Be it known thatl, EDWARD SHAW, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Broad Street House, in the city of London, England, have invented Improvements in Vending-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to vendingmachines of a kind in which predetermined quantities of goods are delivered from bulk and in exchange for a proper coin; and it is to vending-machines of this kind that my present invention relates.

In order that the nature of my invention may be understood, I will describe by way of examplea construction of compound vending-machine in which my improvements are included; but it is to be understood that my invention may be carried out in a variety of forms and that some of my improvements may be employed without others.

A compound machine according thereto may comprise a series of compartments or drums, (hereinafter referred to as drums,) each adapted to contain goods, such as sweets of a different kind in bulk, and mounted on a tube or hollow axis, so as to be capable of being rotated one at a time through suitable coin-controlled actuating mechanism in approximately vertical planes, said drums being provided internallyat or near theirperipheries with radially-arranged buckets or scoops, that pick up sweets and drop them into delivery hoppers or tubes which lead into a common chute that conducts the sweets to an automatic weighing device, which when it tips discharges the sweets into a compartment, whence they can readily be withdrawn, and at the same time causes the disconnection of the drums from the actuating device, and thus prevents further quantities of sweets being withdrawn until another coin is inserted. The several drums may be driven from coin-controlled actuating mechanism that is common to all the drums and can be geared with any desired drum, it may be through one or other of a series of clutches that can be set at any time so as to connect the actuating mechanism with any particular drum. Thus on the insertion of a proper coin into the coin-slot of the machine sweets may be obtained wholly from one drum or from several drums, as may be desired.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of such a compound machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, the easingbeing removed. Fig. 3vis a section on the line a; 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is a section on the line y y, Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a section on the line .2 2, Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 6 shows in side elevation portions of the actuating mechanism, and Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the same, both on an enlarged scale. Fig. Sis a detail view of the mechanism connecting the operating-handle with internal shafts through which motion is conveyed to the drums, and Fig. 9 shows in side elevation the details of a device for delivering paper.

The machine comprises four drums 1, mounted side by side on a large hollow axis 2, fixed horizontally in an inclosing casing 3, parts of which close the ends of the said axis 2. Each of the drums 1 consists of a couple of dished annular metal plates 4, bolted face to face by their outer edges to a peripheral ring 5, having teeth 6 on its exterior, while the interior thereof is furnished with buckets or scoops 7, adapted to transfer to hoppers 8 the sweets with which the drums l are charged through openings 9, fitted with airtight pressed-metal lids or doors 10. The joints between the hollow axis 2 and the drums 1 are made air-tight by means of felt or other packing-rings 11, arranged, as shown, between the adjacent sides of each two drums and between each of the two outermost drums and adjacent parts of the inclosing casing 3. These packing-rings may be saturated with a suitable lubricant. With the teeth 6 on the periphery of each of the four rings 5 gears a pinion 12. These pinions are loosely mounted upon a common shaft 13 and are formed with part-clutches 14;, corresponding longitudinally-movable part-clutches 15 being mounted on the shaft 13, so as to rotate therewith, as may be more readily seen by reference to Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings. The part-clutches 15 are provided with clutch-levers 16, pivoted at 17 and acted on by springs 18, Fig. 6, which normally tend to keep the part-clutches 14 15 engaged.

The clutch-levers 16 are operated by a severse shaft 30 is ries of face-cams 19, mounted on a cam-shaft 20, which extends to the exterior of the machine and has fixed on its outer end an index 21, by which it can be turned, so as to cause the engagement of the parts 14 15 of any particular pinion-clutch. The face-cams 19 act on the renewable end pieces 22 of the clutchlevers 16,normallycompressing the springs 18, and thus keeping the part-clutches 14 15 disengaged. Portions of the faces of the cams 19 are, however, sunk, so as to form cavities 23, which cavities when in contact with the lever ends 22 permit the springs 18 to actuate the clutch-levers 16, and thus to cause the part-clutches 14 15 to engage. The said cavities 23 are so arranged or disposed with reference to the cam-shaft that only one pair of part-clutches 14 15 can be in engagement at a time.

In line with the pinion-shaft 13 is a short spindle 24, which extends to the exterior of the machine and is there provided with a handle 25, by whichit can be freely turned in one direction; Within the casing of the machine, and immediately beneath a coin-slot 26 therethrough, a coin-holder 27 is fixed onthe spindle 24, which is also provided with a partclutch 28. The movement of the handle after the insertion of a coin causes the partclutch 28 to engage with a corresponding partclutch 29 on the pinion-shaft 13, which will then be operated by the continued rotation of the handle 25.

30 is a transverse shaft which is geared to a bevel-wheel31,mountedonashortshaft 31,to which is fixed a lever-arm 32, adapted, on the handle 25 being actuated, to be moved by a coin,if there be one in the coin-holder 27, so as to turn the transverse shaft 30, and thereby to open a door 33, radially fixed thereto, against the action of a spring 34. The trans geared to the wheel 31 by a bevel-wheel 35, fixed to the shaft 30.

36 is a pinion that engages with a circular 'rack 37, carried by the longitudinally-movable part-clutch 28.

38 is a pinion which is fixed on the shaft 30 and gears with a few teeth out on the edge of a disk 39, fixed to a short transverse shaft 40. Thus the movement imparted to the actuating-shaft 24 being transmitted, through the coin and the lever 32 to the transverse shaft 30 is thence transmitted, through the gear-wheels 38 39 36, to the rack 37, whereby the actuating-spindle 24is connected,through the part- clutches 28 and 29, with the pinionshaftl3. Within the hollow axis'2 is an inclined trough or chute 41, into which sweets fall from the hoppers 8, located within the drums l. The lower end of the trough or chute 41 is tubular and extends through the casing 3 and is normally closed in an air-tight manner by the door 33.

The coin having moved the lever 32 through a distance sufficient to effect the engagement of the part-clutches 28 29, a spring-pressed trigger or catch .42 engages with teeth 43,

suitablyformed and disposed onthe edge of the disk 39. The transverse shaft 30 and the mechanism connected therewith are thus held and the part-clutches 28 29 maintained in engagement until the trigger 42 is disengaged from the teeth 43, as hereinafter described. On further rotation of the actuating-spindle 24 the coin, clearing the lever 32, isdischarged, and the rotation of the spindle 24 is "transmitted, through the clutch 28 29, to the pinionshaft 13 and to the drum that is for the time being geared thereto. The teeth of the circular rack 37 sliding between those of the pinion 36, no further motion is imparted to the transverse shaft 30 or to the mechanism in gear therewith.

A dial or series of windows 44, Fig. 1, ex- I hibiting the sweets to be sold or descriptions thereof, is arranged so that according to the position of the index that pinion-clutch will be engaged which will connect to the pinionshaft 13 the pinion operating thatdrum which contains the kind of sweets indicated by the index.

Beneath the mouth of the sweet-chute 41 is a weighing device, the scale-beam 45 of which is tipped when the proper weight of sweets has been delivered into the bucket or pan 46 carried thereby. As the bucket or pan 46 falls it turns over and delivers the sweets into a chute 47 and thence to the purchaser. To that end 48 of the scale-beam 45 which carries the bucket 46 is attached a fine flexible wire 49, preferably of bronze or other non-corrosive metal, which, passing over a guide-pulley 50 on the edge of the chute 47, is connected to one end 51 of a small lever of the first order, the other end 52 of which is connected by a like wire 53 with a second trigger or catch 54, adapted to engage with peripheral teeth 55 on the part-clutch 29 when actuated by the descent of the end 48 of the scale-beam. The trigger or catch 54 is pivoted to and depends from one arm 56 of a bell-crank lever, whose other arm 57 makes contact with a projection 58 on the first-mentioned trigger 42. (See Fig. 6.) The trigger or catch 54 being now engaged with the teeth 55, the continued rotation of the actuating- IIO spindle 24 causes the said catch 54 to pull down the arm 56 of the aforesaid bell-crank lever, whose other end 57, pressing against the projection 58 on the trigger 42, disengages the same from the teeth 43, and thus sets free the transverse shaft 30, which, together with its connected gear, is returned by the spring 34 to its normal position, thereby shutting the door 33 of the chute 41, so as to prevent the access of air to the contents of the drums 1, and throwing out of engagement the part-clutches 28 29 between the pinion-shaft 13 and the actuating-spindle 24, so that the further rotation of the handle 25 cannot effect the delivery of sweets until another coin is inserted. On the discharge of sweets from the bucket or pan 46 the scale-beam 45 is returned to itsnormal. position by the balanceweight 59, the bucket or pan 46 is again set so as to receive sweets from the chute 41, and the tension on the wires 49 53 being relaxed the trigger 54 is disengaged from the teeth 55 by the action of a spring 60, thereby allowing the entire mechanism to return to its original state, so that it may be again actuated on the insertion into the coin-slot 26 of a suitable coin.

The machine may be provided with paperdelivery mechanism adapted to be operated each time the sweet-delivery mechanism is operated. 'A convenient form of such mechanism is shown in side elevation in Fig. 9, in which 61 is a suitable box for containing the paper, having an inclined bottom 62. The box 61 is suppliedwith paper in'the form of bags or sheets 64:, each of which has one edge or corner turned under, as shown at 65, the arrangement being such that the turned-under edge of the lowest bag or sheet projects through the bottom 62 of the box, which is partly cut away to admit of this, as shown at 63.

The casing of the machine has just below the bottom 62 of the box 61 a slot 66, through which a bag or sheet is delivered to the purchaser by means of a hooked lever-arm 67,

that is so pivoted that as it is rocked about its pivot 68 the point 73 thereof engages with the turned-under edge or corner 65 of the lowermost sheet or bag and passes it through the slot 66, so that the customer can take hold of and Withdraw the sheet or bag from the machine. The hooked lever-arm 67 may be linked by means of a connecting-rod 69 to another lever-arm 70, which arm is so acted on by a spring 71 that the point 73 of the hook is normally held out of contact with the portions 65 of the paper sheets or bags. On the transverse shaft 30, hereinbefore mentioned, is mounted a lever-arm 72, having freely pivoted on the end thereof a small curved contact-piece 74:, capable of rocking to some extent on its pivot 75 and having one end 76 thereof adapted to bear against a projection 77 on the rocking lever 70. The rotation of the transverse shaft 30 thus imparts to the lever 67 a forward impulse, thereby causing the delivery of a sheet or bag; but the spring 71 coming into action the arms 67 and immediately revert to their original position. The levers 67 and 70 are preferably carried by a bracket 78 on the inside of a door 79, forming part of the casing and through which access may be obtained to the paper-box 61 and also to the money-box.

In the front of the machine is a glass window through which may be seen the weighing mechanism and an inclined coin trough or guide 80, into which the coins are discharged from the coin-holder 27 and which conducts them to the money-box. The coin-trough S0 is furnished with wire guards 81, preferably of bronze, and is so disposed or inclined that the last few-say eight or ten-coins inserted will always be exposed to view, that coin last inserted always occupying one definite position. The entry of a fresh coin moves on those already in the trough or guide 80, so that the coin nearest the money-box runs over a slightly-rising portion 82 on the end of the coin-trough 80 and falls into the money-box.

By this means any person standing in front of the machine can see whether a proper coin has been inserted and, further, whether any one of the eight or ten coins in view is not a proper one. This afiords a ready means of enabling the use of disks other than proper coins to be observed. It is intended to place on the machine a notice indicating the position occupied by the coin last inserted for the purpose of obtaining sweets and offering a reward for information leading to the detection of any one fraudulently obtaining sweets.

What I claim is" l 1. A vending-machine comprising two or more compartments for holding in bulk goods to be delivered, means adapted to withdraw goods from the several compartments,a weighing device into which withdrawn goods are delivered and from which they are delivered in predetermined quantities and a coin-controlled device adapted to actuate the goodswithdrawing means of each compartment separately as set forth.

2. A vending-machine comprising two or more compartments for holding in bulk goods to be delivered, means adapted to withdraw goods from the several com partments,a weighing device into which withdrawn goods are delivered and from which they are delivered in predetermined quantities,a coin-controlled device adapted to actuate the goodswithdrawing means of each compartment separately, means operated by the action of the weighing device adapted to throw the actuating device out of gear, as set forth.

3. A vending-machine comprising two or more compartments for holdingin bulk goods to be delivered, means adapted to withdraw goods from the several compartments, a weighing device into which withdrawn goods are delivered and from which they are delivered in predetermined quantities, a coin-.

controlled device adaptedto actuate the goodswithdrawing means of each compartment separately, means operated by the action of the weighing device adapted to throw the actuating device out of gear, and means adapted to be adjusted by hand so as to put the actuating means into gear with any desired one of the compartments and to release the others therefrom.

4. A vending-machine comprising two or more rotary goods-containing compartments or drums each provided internally with buckets or scoops and mounted on an approximately horizontalaxis containing a discharge chute common to all the compartments and into which lead hoppers one of which is located in each compartment, an automatic weighing device, coin-controlled mechanism for rotating said drums one at a time, and

aconnection between the said mechanism and the weighing device, as and for the purpose specified.

5. A compound vending-machine compris ingtwo or more rotary compartments ordrums each adapted to contain goods of a different kind in bulk and mounted on an approximately horizontal tube or hollow axis, each drum being provided internally with buckets or scoops that pick upgoods and drop them into a delivery-hopper, a chute in communi cation with said hopper and an automatic weighing device in communication with said chute, coin-controlled mechanism whereby the aforesaid drums may be actuated one at a time, and means whereby the tipping of the weighing deviceaforesaid effects the disconnection of the aforesaid actuating mechanism, as set forth.

6. A compound vendingmachine comprising two or more rotary compartments or drums each adapted to contain goods of a different kind in bulk and mounted on an approximately horizontal tube or hollow axis, each drum being provided internally with buckets or scoops that pick up goods and drop them into a delivery-hopper, a chute in communication with said hopper and an automatic weighing device in communication with said chute, coin-controlled mechanism whereby the aforesaid drums may be actuated one at a time, means whereby the tipping of the aforesaid weighing device effects the disconnection of the actuating mechanism; and paper-delivery mechanism adapted each time the machine is actuated, to be thereby operated as set forth.

7. In a compound vending-machine the combination of a series of rotary compartments or drums mounted on a tubular axis and formed internally with buckets or scoops and externally with teeth, a series of hoppers extending one from each compartment to a common discharge-chute within the tubular axis, a shaft having loosely mounted on it a series ofpinions each geared to one of the several compartments and each provided with a clutch whereby it can be coupled to the said shaft, coin-operated mechanism for coupling said shaft with an external actuating-handle, a series of cams so mounted as to be operated simultaneously from the exterior of the machine and to so operate the clutches as to couple any one pinion but only one at a time to the said shaft as set forth.

8. In a compound vending-machine the combination of a series of rotary compartments or drums mounted on a tubular axis and formed internally with buckets or scoops and externally with teeth, a series of hoppers extending one from each compartment to a common discharge-chute within the tubular axis, a shaft having loosely mounted on it a series of pinions each geared to one of the several compartments and each provided with a clutch whereby it can be coupled to the said shaft, coin-operated mechanism for coupling said shaft with an external actuating-handle, a series of cams so mounted as to be operated simultaneously from the exterior of the machine and to so operate the clutches as to couple any one pinion but only one ata time to the said shaft, a Weighing device connected with the coin-operated coupling which will be thrown out of gear on the tipping of the weighing-pan, as set forth.

9. In a compound vendingmachine the combination of a series of rotary compartments or drums mounted on a tubular axis and formed internally with buckets or scoops and externally with teeth, a series of hoppers extending one from each compartment to a common discharge-chute within the tubular axis, a shaft having loosely mounted on it a series of pinions each geared to one of the several compartments and each'provided'with a clutch whereby it can be coupled to the said shaft, coin-operated mechanism for coupling said shaft with an external actuating-handle, a door that normally closes the mouth of the common discharge-chute, and paper-delivery mechanism, both the door and the paper-delivery mechanism being operated through the medium of the coin so as to open the chute and deliver a piece of paper, as set forth.

10. A vendingmachine comprising a rotatable drum adapted to hold the goods in bulk, the inner side of the drum having elevating members, a chute in communication with the drum and adapted to receive the goods from said elevating members, an operating mechanism for said drum, and a coincontrolled locking mechanism for said operating mechanism, substantially as described.

11. A vending-machine comprising a rotatable drum having elevating members upon its inner side, the drum adapted to contain the goods in bulk, a chute having its inner end in communication with the interior of the-drum and adapted to receive the goods from said elevating members as the drum is rotated, a drum-operating mechanism, a handle normally independent of said operating mechanism, a clutch mechanism situated between the said member and the drum-operating mechanism,and a coin-controlled mechanism adapted to control the said clutch mechanism, whereby the operating-handle is operatively connected with the drum-operating mechanism, substantially as described.

12. In a vending-machine the combination of a delivery mechanism,a coin-controlled mechanism, a paper-bag support, and a bag-delivering member actuated by the said first deilvering mechanism, substantially as described.

13. A vending-machine comprising a delivering mechanism, a coin-controlled mechanism, a paper-bag support, a paper-bag-delivering member and an operating mechanism common to both the delivering mechanism, and the bag-delivering member, substantially as described.

14. In a vending-machine, the combination of a goods-delivery'mechanism, a paper-feed ing mechanism, a coin-controlled mechanism controlling both the goods-delivery mechanism and the paper-feeding mechanism, and a weighing mechanism controlling the coin-controlled mechanism.

15. In a vending-machine comprising compartments for holding in bulk goods to be delivered, a goods-delivery mechanism therein, a. coin-controlled mechanism controlling the goods delivery mechanism, and a weighing mechanism adapted to receive the goods from the goods delivery mechanism and controlling said coin-controlled mechanism.

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